RAIL REGULATOR REPORT PRAISES RAIL INDUSTRY RESPONSE TO COVID

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2021 :: RMTnews 9 RMT responded to rail regulator the Office of Rail and Road’s annual report into Network Rail’s performance and safety which said that the whole industry had reacted quickly to the challenges posed by the pandemic and kept workers and those members of the public needing to travel moving. The report, which details Network Rail’s record over the last 12 months praised the rail industry for its response to the Covid19 crisis whilst highlighting the role of health and safety on our railways following several tragic and avoidable fatalities over the last year. The train derailment at Carmont was a stark reminder of the need for continued focus on safety management and the report stresses the need for Network Rail to ensure it mitigates the impact of climate change and extreme weather. Sadly, three rail workers lost their lives in 2020-21 including two track workers at Surbiton and Roade. The report notes that Network Rail has achieved a reduction in the work that relies on human lookouts to seven per cent but it must now increase the speed with which it adopts new technology that can further reduce safety risks. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the rail regulator was right to highlight the role rail workers had played during the Covid- 19 crisis to keep our railways moving and ensure people, food and medical supplies get to where they need to be safely. “However, there is a huge glaring omission in this report and that is the fact that Network Rail backed by the government is planning to introduce the biggest attack on jobs, conditions, safety and pay in generations. “Cutting jobs, increasing workloads, reducing and diluting standards, inspections and safety critical disciplines is a toxic cocktail of measures which could have disastrous consequences for safety. “Network Rail is importing danger and returning to the dark days of Railtrack where cutting corners and staffing led to fatal accidents and it is vital the rail regulator ensure this simply is not allowed to happen,” he said. RMT Rail Gourmet staff at Edinburgh Waverley took 24- hour strike action in July following a 100 per cent vote by members in support of strike action. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the action was all about respect and justice in the workplace and the company’s continued refusal, even in the face of a massive 100 per cent vote for strike action, to do anything about it. “A culture of bullying and harassment has been allowed to develop at Edinburgh Waverley which has led to a wholesale breakdown in industrial relations and our members have had enough. “It's now down to Rail Gourmet to listen to the strength of feeling of its workers and address these long running and deep- seated issues. “RMT will be backing our members with all means at our disposal to ensure they are no longer confronted with this toxic working environment,” he said. PRAISED: A special train run by Network Rail for clearing and to maintain track seen at London Bridge station, London RAIL REGULATOR REPORT PRAISES RAIL INDUSTRY RESPONSE TO COVID RMT warns regulator it has omitted plans for jobs cuts and attacks on conditions, safety and pay EDINBURGH RAIL GOURMET STAFF STRIKE